Samsung recalls millions of Galaxy Note 7 phones

Samsung has issued a global recall for its newest phone, the Galaxy Note 7, two weeks after it came on the market.

Customers have complained of the phone exploding while charging its battery. A total of 35 cases have been reported, according to a statement the South Korean-based company released to the Yonhap News Agency, a South Korean news agency.

Samsung said an investigation into the complaints revealed a battery cell issue, and that it will stop all further sales of the Note 7 until it can correct the problem. The company also said it will replace customers’ recalled devices in the coming weeks.

This is the first time Samsung has issued a global recall of one of its smartphones.

The Galaxy Note 7 caught consumers’ attention with an iris scanner that unlocks the phone with a blink of an eye, as well as waterproof functions. It is one of Samsung’s most expensive devices, at more than $800.

Earlier this summer, some consumers also complained about the Samsung Galaxy S7 Active, which was marketed as a water-resistant device but reportedly failed testing.

Left:
An employee poses for photographs with Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note 7 new smartphone at its store in Seoul, South Korea, September 2, 2016. Photo by Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters